In the TED talk “How to Deconstruct Racism, One Headline at a Time,” Baratunde Rafiq Thurston discusses the black population’s problems emerging from inappropriate actions of white people due to their distorted perceptions. Thurston begins by narrating his life and his mother’s desire to be as black as possible by giving her son a name reflecting their race. This idea adds to the importance of self-identity and the impossibility of expressing oneself in present-day society. The author goes on to explain why white supremacy remains the main system in the country by giving examples of headlines, in which black citizens are targeted because of imaginary threats they imply. Moreover, his stance is underpinned by the conducted analysis stating a similar nature of these events.
In the proposed game, Thurston demonstrates the interrelation between white people’s beliefs and actions adversely affecting their black counterparts. Meanwhile, he claims that the attempts to change the positions of subjects and targets are not a solution. From his perspective, it is necessary to solve issues without involving the police, which is typically violent towards the latter. Finally, the narrator concludes on the need for a structural change in responses to ensure all citizens’ comfort.